| One day, a delegation from Dubai visited Company H. | | | | Company H. |
| Mr. L, the chief representative of the company, | | | | In this case, the staff in Company H is unfamiliar with |
| received them. As the negotiation went on, Mr. L felt | | | | the Muslim culture. Thus a sharp conflict destroyed |
| confused and bored because the Arabs asked for a | | | | their business. In Muslim culture, people pray for five |
| break every hour. Then they went to toilet to wash | | | | times every day; they are extremely sensitive to pig |
| their hands and faces. When they came back, they | | | | or any topic related to pig and do not eat pork in |
| knelt down to pray. As there was no towel in the | | | | their life time. Therefore, people should be very |
| toilet, the Arabs prayed with wet hands and faces. | | | | careful when doing business with people from Muslim |
| Mr. L found himself in a dilemma, because he did not | | | | culture. |
| know whether he should withdraw from the scene | | | | From this case, we can also learn that people in doing |
| or not. | | | | business are often faced with employees, partners |
| When it was time for lunch, the Arabs were treated | | | | and colleagues of different cultural background. |
| to a rich dinner. When everyone was seated, the | | | | Multiculturalism in the workplace has increased, thus |
| waitress started introducing the different dishes in | | | | cultural conflict becomes very common. It means |
| English to the Arab visitors. They all looked surprised | | | | depression, serious physical reactions, anger, |
| and pleased at the variety. When the waitress | | | | aggression toward the new culture, and even total |
| mentioned some specially cooked pork, the smiles | | | | failure. All of these reactions would obviously hamper |
| disappeared from all those visitors' face and all of | | | | cross-cultural communication. Therefore, to be |
| them looked angry. No one said a word. Quickly they | | | | successful in cross-cultural communication, we should |
| stood up and left the dinner without saying goodbye | | | | know not only our own cultural rules but also other's |
| to anyone, though there were some important | | | | cultural rules. Knowing cultural differences, business |
| Chinese local guests present. The same day, this | | | | people could manage the problem of cultural conflict |
| Dubai delegation left the city without notifying | | | | and the consequent frustration. |